PHOENIX, Ariz. – True freshman Hannah Meshnick led Illinois State (2-5) to a 9-0 victory over Weber State (2-5) as she tossed a no-hitter against the Wildcats in game one. The Redbirds dropped their second game of the day to Grand Canyon (7-0) in a 6-4 decision.
Meshnick, who has appeared in relief previously this season, made her first career start in the circle for the Redbirds against Weber State and tossed Illinois State's 14th no-hitter in program history. The game ended after six innings due to the 'eight after five' run-rule, but Meshnick faced the minimum through six innings as her two walks were both erased by double plays.
Illinois State played its second game of the day against an undefeated GCU team. While the Redbirds took an early lead over the Lopes, they were unable to come up with the victory and dropped game two 6-4 on walk-off by GCU.
BIRDS BITS (Game 1 vs. Weber State)
Offensive Highlights:
- Abby Knight: 3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, SB
- Delainey Bryant: 2-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB
- Emme Olson: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- Addison Masching: 2-for-3, R, RBI
- Kaili Chval: 1-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI
- Chloe Jefferson: 1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO
- Bella Wilkerson: 1-for-2, R, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illinois State offense got things going for the Redbirds in the bottom half of the first as sophomore Abby Knight smacked a leadoff single to left center. Sophomore Delainey Bryant followed Knight with a walk and a one-out, infield single from sophomore Addison Masching loaded the bases for Kaili Chval. Chval found a gap in the outfield that ended up as a two-RBI double, but a throwing error allowed Masching to also score and gave the Redbirds a 3-0 lead.
The Redbirds were not done yet in the bottom of the first. After Weber State got the second out of the inning and with Chval on second, senior Chloe Jefferson launched her first career home run to left field to make the score 5-0 in favor of Illinois State. The Wildcats were forced to make a pitching change and finally got the third out before any more damage could be done.
After another three up, three down inning in the top of the second from Hannah Meshnick, the Redbirds tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning. Knight was on base again as she reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Bryant knocked a single to center and made it to third on a throwing error while Knight came around to score. Another infield single from Masching plated Bryant and the 'Birds took a 7-0 lead after two complete innings.
Meshnick sat down nine in a row before she issued her first walk to the leadoff batter in the top of the fourth, but the Redbird defense flashed its leather and turned a double play to end the inning. Another walk was drawn by the Wildcats in the fifth, but Illinois State's defense was at it again with another double play to keep Meshnick at the minimum number of batters faced.
With two outs in the sixth, the Redbirds were able to score a pair of runs as sophomore Bella Wilkerson picked up a two-out single to start the rally. Knight, with her third hit of the game, doubled and Bryant drew her second walk of the game to bring up fifth-year senior Emme Olson. Olson, who is currently fifth in program history in single-season and career doubles, smashed her first two-bagger of the season to give the Redbirds a 9-0, walk-off victory over Weber State.
NOTES
- Hannah Meshnick made her first career start for the Redbirds and picked up the victory as she tossed a no-hitter, only allowing two baserunners on two walks. She faced the minimum of 18 batters through six innings.
- Meshnick's no-hitter is the 14th in program history. The last Redbird to achieve this feat was current senior pitcher Hannah Ross when she tossed a perfect game on March 10, 2022, against UT Martin which also ended in walk-off fashion.
- Senior Chloe Jefferson hit her first career home run.
- Emme Olson's walk-off double was the 41st of her career and puts her in sole possession of fifth in program history in career doubles. Olson was previously tied with Priscilla Welch (1994-97) at 40 career doubles and is now one double away from a three-way tie for third in program history at 42 doubles with Betsy Youngquist (1994-97) and Jordan de los Reyes (2014-17).
- Olson has reached base safely in every game so far this season. Her reached base safely streak dates back to the final two games of 2022 and currently stands at eight games after the Weber State victory.
BIRDS BITS (Game 2 vs. Grand Canyon)
Offensive Highlights:
- Dayna Kennedy: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, RBI
- Delainey Bryant: 1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 BB
- Jayden Standish: 2-for-4, R
- Chloe Jefferson: 1-for-2, R, BB
- Emme Olson: 1-for-3, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
- Hannah Ross (1-2): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO, 2 WP
- Amanda Fox (L, 0-2): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, SO
HOW IT HAPPENED
Again, the 'Birds were busy to start the game as Bryant drew her first walk of the game, her third of the day, and Olson singled to right, but Illinois State came up empty after in the top of the first.
The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead over GCU in the second, and it was the first time the Lopes had trailed so far this season. Junior Jayden Standish singled up the middle to lead off the inning and moved over to second on a groundout. Senior Dayna Kennedy doubled off the wall in left to score Standish and take the early lead.
Another run came across for Illinois State in the third as Bryant hit the Redbirds second double of the game to the gap in right center. A fly out to center moved Bryant to third and a walk drawn by Masching put runners at the corners which forced a pitching change for GCU. Chval collected an RBI on her groundout to second that allowed Bryant to score, making it 2-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
GCU was able cut their deficit in half as the Lopes plated a run on an RBI single in the home half of the third.
A few miscues from the GCU defense allowed a pair of runs to score the Redbirds in the fourth. Jefferson led off the inning with a single and senior Brandi LaFountaine reached on a fielder's choice, but everyone was safe. With two runners on, no outs, Kennedy also reached on a fielder's choice, but a bad throw allowed Jefferson and LaFountaine to score.
Illinois State led by three heading into the bottom of the fifth, but GCU plated a run on a sacrifice fly and cut the Redbirds' lead to just two. The Lopes were able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on a two-RBI single. Senior Amanda Fox entered in relief of Ross and got the final two outs of the sixth to keep the game tied at 4-4 heading into the seventh.
Olson drew a leadoff walk for the Redbirds in the top of the seventh and moved into scoring position on a groundout, but Illinois State could not come up with another run.
After getting the first out in the bottom half of the seventh, GCU doubled down the right field line and followed that up with a two-run home run to win in walk-off and remain undefeated so far in 2023.
NOTES
- Olson keeps her reached base safely streak alive. She has now reached base safely in all six games so far this season, but her total is up to nine games dating back the final two games of the 2022 season.
ON DECK
Illinois State closes out the Littlewood Classic back in Tempe, Ariz. for two games against BYU (5-2) at noon CT and No. 22/RV Arizona State (5-2) at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 18. The game against the Sun Devils will be broadcast on the ASU Pac-12 stream and live stats will be available for both contests.
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